Balancing and Memorandum Account Recovery Procedures	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Balancing and Memorandum Account Recovery Procedures [Abstract]
BALANCING AND MEMORANDUM ACCOUNT RECOVERY PROCEDURES	Balancing and Memorandum Account Recovery Procedures Balancing and memorandum accounts are recognized in revenue by San Jose Water Company when it is probable that future recovery of previously incurred costs or future refunds that are to be credited to customers will occur through the ratemaking process. In assessing the probability criteria for balancing and memorandum accounts between rate cases, the Company considers evidence that may exist prior to California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”) authorization that would satisfy regulated revenue recognition criteria. Such evidence may include regulatory rules and decisions, past practices, and other facts and circumstances that would indicate that recovery or refund is probable. When such evidence provides sufficient support for balance recognition, the balances are recorded in the Company's financial statements. As of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the total balance in San Jose Water Company’s balancing accounts, including interest, was a net under-collection of $5,501 and $6,314, respectively. In the general rate case application filed January 3, 2012, San Jose Water Company requested authorization to recover $2,600 of this balance, which represented balances accumulated through December 31, 2010, plus interest. As of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the total balance in San Jose Water Company’s memorandum-type accounts, including interest, was a net over-collection of $1,243 and $1,486, respectively. In the general rate case application filed January 3, 2012, San Jose Water Company requested authorization to refund $700, which represented a portion of the net over-collection accumulated through September 30, 2011, including interest. As of March 31, 2013, the total balance in San Jose Water Company’s balancing and memorandum accounts combined, including interest, was a net under-collection of $4,258. The Company met the recognition requirements for certain of its balancing and memorandum accounts and recorded revenue and regulatory assets totaling $1,008 and $0 during the three months ended March 31, 2013 and March 31, 2012, respectively. In addition, a memorandum account with a balance of $878 as of December 31, 2012 was approved by the CPUC during the quarter ended March 31, 2013 and was recorded as revenue and classified as an other current asset. All balancing accounts and memorandum-type accounts not included for recovery or refund in the current general rate case will be reviewed by the CPUC in San Jose Water Company’s next general rate case or at the time an individual account reaches a threshold of 2% of authorized revenue, whichever occurs first.

Balancing and Memorandum Account Recovery Procedures

Balancing and memorandum accounts are recognized in revenue by San Jose Water Company when it is probable that future recovery of previously incurred costs or future refunds that are to be credited to customers will occur through the ratemaking process. In assessing the probability criteria for balancing and memorandum accounts between rate cases, the Company considers evidence that may exist prior to California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”) authorization that would satisfy regulated revenue recognition criteria. Such evidence may include regulatory rules and decisions, past practices, and other facts and circumstances that would indicate that recovery or refund is probable. When such evidence provides sufficient support for balance recognition, the balances are recorded in the Company's financial statements.

As of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the total balance in San Jose Water Company’s balancing accounts, including interest, was a net under-collection of $5,501 and $6,314, respectively. In the general rate case application filed January 3, 2012, San Jose Water Company requested authorization to recover $2,600 of this balance, which represented balances accumulated through December 31, 2010, plus interest. As of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the total balance in San Jose Water Company’s memorandum-type accounts, including interest, was a net over-collection of $1,243 and $1,486, respectively. In the general rate case application filed January 3, 2012, San Jose Water Company requested authorization to refund $700, which represented a portion of the net over-collection accumulated through September 30, 2011, including interest. As of March 31, 2013, the total balance in San Jose Water Company’s balancing and memorandum accounts combined, including interest, was a net under-collection of $4,258. The Company met the recognition requirements for certain of its balancing and memorandum accounts and recorded revenue and regulatory assets totaling $1,008 and $0 during the three months ended March 31, 2013 and March 31, 2012, respectively. In addition, a memorandum account with a balance of $878 as of December 31, 2012 was approved by the CPUC during the quarter ended March 31, 2013 and was recorded as revenue and classified as an other current asset. All balancing accounts and memorandum-type accounts not included for recovery or refund in the current general rate case will be reviewed by the CPUC in San Jose Water Company’s next general rate case or at the time an individual account reaches a threshold of 2% of authorized revenue, whichever occurs first.